CHAPTER SEVENTY- FOUR


By the time the sky began to show approaching dawn they had found the small cove, shaped like a key hole with sheer rock on all the curved stone that enclosed it, barely noticeable from the ocean side. They slowly wound through some barely submerged rocks and Seb expertly turned the craft so they were facing the ocean and cut the engines.

Carlos and David flipped the rubber bumpers over the land side of the craft and they drifted until they touched the sharp rocks, then secured themselves with the anchor wedged between some of the boulders.

The tide was out but there was no beach, the rocks disappearing into the deep water too far straight down to see bottom. Beside them the rocks rose in lumps and ledges for nearly 100 feet, some scrubby trees on the crest that would provide good cover if they managed to climb that far.

Urs decided to go up, took a set of powerful binoculars from the equipment and with a boost from Neto reached out for the first hand hold, pulled himself up and went up the face like a human fly. He reached the top easily, not even short of breath, took the roll of thin strong rope he had coiled over his shoulder and secured it to the biggest, sturdiest tree he could find and dropped the end over the side before laying prone and wiggling to the top-most boulder to look out over the view below.

It looked peaceful, a few fishing boats heading south in the rosy dawn light, the village mostly hidden by the next point of land and the trees, the spire above the bell tower on the church spiking into the sky above the sparse tree line. He had a good view of the shack near the water, where Elena surmised Emilio lived. There was nothing stirring except a few chickens, scratching aimlessly and waiting to be fed.

He felt movement and looked around, over his shoulder to find that Elena had used the rope and pulled herself hand over hand to the top, walking her feet up the rock and crouching to lay beside him.

“Why is it that whenever I lay down, you suddenly appear beside me?” he whispered with a grin.

She looked at him straight faced. “Just making sure no one steals my spot,” and she grinned and reached for the binoculars.

She scanned the area below them, then out to sea and back again at the area near the shack.

“That’s Hawk’s truck,” she said, indicating the beat up, mostly rust colored vehicle parked near the shack.

“You suppose they’ve advanced the schedule?”

She thought for a moment.

“Maybe … but there’s no yacht yet to take the children away…. I think Hawk is just being careful, arriving early. But we better get underway to Abuela’s in case he left a message.”

He nodded and they inched back from the crest, used the rope to descend and talked briefly with the others.

Each of the four about to go ashore filled a small pack with supplies: water bottle, extra battery packs for the head phones, extra clips for their weapons, night vision goggles, dried fruit and nuts, wide rolls of medical tape, Elena also throwing an Epi pen, an anti venom kit and antibiotic cream in hers.

They all donned their head sets and Elena taped the mikes to each person’s cheek, showed them how to feed the wire through their black tee shirts to the battery pack on their jeans, showed them the volume control and stood back to inspect everyone.

They all looked so serious, determined, not a trace of fear visible on any face though she knew from experience that little frissones of nerves were coursing through them and that was good. The adrenaline would keep them sharp.

She hugged Neto and then Seb, speaking softly to the still unsure Frenchman.

“We are counting on you and Neto, Sebastien. If the boat is lost or can not reach us we are finished. Stay safe and be ready to come for us when we call.”

He nodded and watched as one by one they started the climb up the rope, nearly to the top of the rocks then stepped away to the left, heading into the shelter of the trees and down hill, going inland.

**

Once they reached the bottom of the rocky elevation they stopped while Elena checked the compass setting in her watch, picked out a sensible direction and Urs took the lead, using the remaining stars as a guide to keep more or less on track as they quietly moved through the leaf littered underbrush. It was dim in the growth of trees, the sun not yet fully risen, the birds just now starting their morning song.

David walked at the end of their line of 4, hoping that any early rising snakes would be scared from the path by the others … gunmen or pornographers he wasn’t worried about, but snakes… he so hoped not to embarrass himself by shrieking like a frightened little girl if he saw one.

Carlos was behind Elena, a little jazzed by what they were doing, maybe just a shade nervous. This was so far outside of anything he had ever done. He had always been a city boy, never liking camping or the great out of doors as much as the others. Now the stubborn streak in him and his deep dislike of mistreatment of the innocents urged him on, determined to do his part.

Elena watched Urs, just a few lengths ahead of her as he instinctively chose a path for them, moving easily and quietly, his stride that of one of the sleek big cats, a black panther maybe. He held branches back until he felt her grasp them, the sign of a good, thoughtful woodsman, stepped over branches rather than on them and creating noise when they broke.

“He was born to this,” she thought, meaning integrating with nature, not the stealthy mission they were on. A feeling of relief that she no longer would be doing this type of work filled her…if she had continued she knew it would not have been possible to convince him to let her go alone. To warp his innate goodness and loving heart with training such as she had once relished would have been such a crime. She shuddered to think of it.

As if he heard her silent thoughts he looked over his shoulder at her, smiled and raised his eyebrows.

She smiled back and shook her head. They continued.

Another twenty minutes and the trees began to thin. Urs slowed their pace, going carefully now and watching between the trunks for signs of movement ahead. Elena came up beside him , quietly, when he crouched beside a tree and motioned the others to get down.

Her sense of direction had been right on. Ahead of them the land cleared to contain a small garden and an outbuilding where an elderly woman had just turned a small flock of chickens loose, scattering feed on the ground around them before taking up a metal pail and going to a cistern to fill it with water.

Abuela Teresa.

Elena motioned them all to stay where they were and stood erect, stepping out of the shelter of the trees and walking softly toward the elderly lady.

The Abuela sensed movement and turned to face Elena, surprised at first glance then held her hands out, smiling and calling out to Elena.

“Ah, Child. Gracias a Dios that you are here.”

Elena went to her and was enveloped in the old but strong arms.

“Your friend was able to tell you? I was losing hope that you would be in time.”

“Thank you, Abuela. I came as quickly as possible…and I am not alone.”

Elena motioned for Urs, Carlos and David to join her and they stepped slowly out of the grove of trees, careful to make no sudden moves and frighten the elderly lady, smiling as they approached.

“Abuela Teresa, this is my husband, Urs and his brothers, David and Carlos.”

Teresa was clearly flustered to have three tall, handsome men smiling at her and kissing her cheeks in welcome and flushed under her weathered skin.

“Come inside, away from prying eyes. We will talk and I will tell you the latest news.”

She led the way into her small house. As it had been the last time Elena was here, the interior was spotlessly clean and organized, cool because of the overhanging eaves of the thatched roof. Of the old school where women were subservient to men she motioned for the men to sit on the three chairs at the table while she bustled about taking the only 3 beer she had out of the cooler and pouring herself and Elena a cold glass of water as they both sat on upturned wooden boxes on the floor.

“Your friend arrived in the village last night. He has gone to Emilio’s to await the arrival of the children and the evil men who wish to take them away. The Jefe who buys children, curse his soul, has changed the plans. He arrives this night, not tomorrow.
Senor Halcon will return soon, to see if you are here. He is claiming a very sick stomach for which he is seeking my treatment.”

“It is important that we are not seen, Abuela Teresa. Will you allow us to remain here while we plan how to take the children from these men?” Urs asked her quietly.

“Of course, Senor Urs. There is a pollo in the yard I do not like. She always pecks at my feet. I will prepare her for comida and we will wait for Senor Halcon.”

She rose and went out the back again.

“We can’t take her food,” David said quietly. “She doesn’t have a lot to share.”

“Do not shame the lady by refusing her hospitality,” Urs said, understanding more than Elena thought he would. “When this is over we will have the chance to repay her hospitality.”

They heard a squawking, cut off abruptly by the thumping of an axe in the back yard and a few moments later the Abuela walked under the lean-to holding a headless chicken by the legs as she wound a thong around them tightly. She hung the fowl from a hook on one of the beams and began plucking feathers from it and dropping them into a basket to one side.

Elena rose and went to help, leaving the men to talk in low tones, not wanting to be heard outside the house. They had nearly finished when they all heard the motor of a vehicle stopping outside the front entrance.

For an elderly lady the Abuela moved very quickly, moving to the doorway while her guests fanned out to each side of the door, taking their bottles with them and drawing their weapons, safeties off.

“Senor Halcon…. You are still unwell? Leave your friend in the truck. I will not have such as he in my home.”

They heard both truck doors slam then an exchange of voices.

“Loca bruja vieja!!! {Crazy old witch!} She has been too long without a good man to teach her respect. I will wait for you in the cantina.” Emilio trudged on to the village, hurling a string of insults back at the old lady as Hawk gritted his teeth and walked over to join the lady in question.

“Lo siento, Abuela. {I am sorry, grandmother} I wish this was over so I could rip the tongue from his filthy mouth.” He spoke quietly and she smiled and patted his cheek.

“Come inside, Senor,” she said then leaned close to whisper “Your friends are here.”

Hawk followed her into the casa, impressed when he saw the three tense men replacing weapons as he entered and Elena standing partly behind one with his long hair pulled back into a ponytail.

“Owl…. You have changed, ‘miga. You look…happy?”

She laughed lightly and clasped the hand he held out to her.

“I am happy, Hawk. Urs, this is my friend Hawk…. Hawk this is my husband, Urs and our brothers, David and Carlos.” Once again she had introduced the Divos as brothers and they beamed at the newcomer with pride that she would think of them in this way.

“I do not have much time… the cabrone will come back for me if I do not join him soon. There are some things I must tell you and it will be easier if you listen until I have finished.”

Abuela Teresa stepped to the doorway and watched down the road to the village as the others sat and Hawk paced the confined space. He took Ellena’s hands and led her to Urs, nudging her to sit on Urs’ lap and when he did this Elena went cold, knowing she would not like what he was going to say.